“Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.
His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.
Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.”
Cyrus S. Nusbaum
One of the most anti-Christian messages, that is very popular in the Church today, is the idea of self-forgiveness, even though it is not taught in the Bible.
Setting aside the principle of Sola Scriptura, or Scripture alone, individuals, such as Joshua Hook, a licensed clinical psychologist, substitutes the wisdom of man for the wisdom of God, without blushing.
“I can’t think of a specific verse on self-forgiveness, but I think being forgiven by God and forgiving ourselves are closely connected (or at least I think they should be).”
There you have it. “I think…. I think….”
But what does God think? That is the real question.
In a futile attempt to bring Christianity and psychology together, Dr. Joshua Hook goes on to explain what he thinks about self-forgiveness
“First, self-forgiveness involves a change in emotions toward the self from negative to positive. This is similar to how a lot of folks describe forgiveness of others. Instead of feeling a lot of guilt, shame, and anger toward ourselves, we begin to replace those feelings with empathy, compassion, and love toward ourselves. Our view of self begins to shift. Second, self-forgiveness involves a reaffirmation of values.”
What will happen if Christians continue to embrace the worldly philosophy of self-forgiveness?
First, Christians will continue to be pressed into the mold of the world. The Church has already adopted the world’s method of worship, organization, dress, and music. It has listened when the world said to stop making people feel guilty, shameful, and angry over personal transgressions.
The Church has obeyed the Church growth experts who insisted that Bible verses that are negative should not be read. Affirm the positive. That is the power of positive thinking. That will enhance self-forgiveness.
Second, if Christians continue to embrace the worldly philosophy of self-forgiveness, the heart of the individual will become harder. The same sun which melts the butter hardens the clay.
The same gospel which is designed to bring conviction and tears, as it did to David, can harden the heart, as it did with Pharaoh.
Pharaoh forgave himself for the way he treated the Hebrew people. David did not forgive himself when told, “Thou art the man who has hurt others.”
Had David simply affirmed that he should be more loving, and forgiven himself, the words of Psalm 51 would never have been written.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest” (Psalm 51:1-4).
“My sin is ever before me,” cried David. That is not a man who practiced self-forgiveness for it was against God he had sinned, and only God can forgive sin.
Third, if the Church continues to embrace the worldly philosophy of self-forgiveness, the life of the individual will be confirmed, not in holiness, but in haughtiness. The soul will say to itself,
“This is whom I am, and I am proud of it!”
Confirmation that this is true is found in the phrase, “Gay Pride!” Pride is inordinate self-esteem.
Pride is conceit, and yet, homosexuals, lesbians, transgenders, perverts of every conceivable form are now openly proud of who they are.
Who, and what they are, is a badge of honor. They are of their father the Devil.
The original sin of Lucifer was pride, so it is no surprise that his spiritual DNA is found in all his offspring, who are defiantly articulate. They no longer blush in shame, but openly display their unnatural behavior before the world.
In 2019, New York saw five million people attending the Gay Pride Parade. Evil is on the march. Evil is marching against the Church, against God, and against nature.
Evil is marching towards the Second Death in the Lake of Fire. The mouth of hell opens wider to receive so many.
Third, if Christians continue to embrace the worldly philosophy of self-forgiveness, the local Church they attend will be removed, for the philosophy of self-forgiveness does not limit itself to one transgression. Few sins are in the singular.
Self-forgiveness gives freedom to be wicked, while pretending to be weak.
Self-forgiveness gives a license to continue additive behavior, in the name of being sick. If a person is sick, they deserve sympathy, not censorship.
The sick expect support, not sermons on morality, faith, and repentance.
If such sermons are preached, the person who has forgiven himself will move on to another assembly to be with those who can understand, and are not critical, and legalistic.
Finally, if Christians continue to embrace the worldly philosophy of self-forgiveness, it will make the death of Jesus Christ meaningless. Jesus did not die to leave people in sin, with the ability to forgive themselves, and move on with life.
Jesus died so that individuals could be forgiven by God, who alone can forgive sins.
If you believe that only God can forgive you, then stand afresh in self-judgment, identify specific sins, confess them before God, humbly ask for His forgiveness, and cultivate a contrite and broken heart.
God will freely forgive those who are sincere and honest. The Lord will not only forgive, He will cleanse the soul from all unrighteousness. Amen.
“Would you be free
from the burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood,
power in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
There is power, power,
wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power,
wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you be free
from your passion and pride?
There’s power in the blood,
power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
Would you be whiter,
much whiter than snow?
There’s power in the blood,
power in the blood;
Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow.
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
Would you do service
for Jesus your king?
There’s power in the blood,
power in the blood;
Would you live daily
His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.”
Lewis E. Jones
